In home opener, Phillies show they have as much right to title as Eagles

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01-04-2025

In home opener, Phillies show they have as much right to title as Eagles
PHILADELPHIA – Brandon Graham paraded onto the infield at Citizens Bank Park Monday afternoon clutching the Lombardi Trophy from his and the Eagles' recent Super Bowl triumph.
He was soon joined by fellow Birds royalty Saquon Barkley, and it wasn't long before the merry sellout gathering of 44,595 began their hallelujah chorus of 'Fly Eagles Fly,' concluded of course by an enthusiastic 'E-A-G-L-E-S, Eagles!' roar.
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But this was the Phillies' day at Citizens Bank Park, with the defending National League East champ set to launch a championship bid of their own, which will be seven months in the making. Can the Eagles' rub off on them? They can only hope.
Former Philadelphia Eagle Brandon Graham acknowledges the crowd before the home opener between the Colorado Rockies and the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on March 31, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
While the Eagles' recent title certainly provides inspiration, the Phillies needed to pitch and hit well enough to carve out a victory in the home opener on their own 162-game marathon path toward the postseason.
This being baseball, in which the best teams lose more than any other pro sport, that requires patience and power, both of which ended up being valuable virtues in a 6-1 win over the Colorado Rockies.
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'That was a fun day,' said Kyle Schwarber afterward of a sentiment certainly shared by many.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MARCH 31: Philadelphia Phillies fans cheer after Kyle Schwarber's two-run home run in the seventh inning during the home opener against the Colorado Rockies at Citizens Bank Park on March 31, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies won 6-1. (Photo by)
The Phillies, having already taken two of three at Washington to start the season, began this 3-game set hoping to, at the very least, do the same against not-so-sinister Colorado, knowing much stronger duels await from the National League champion Dodgers later this week and powerhouse NL East rivals Atlanta and New York later.
There was plenty to like about what the Phillies did to achieve Monday's triumph, though much of it arrived belatedly, which only added to the appreciation it earned.
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They were losing 1-0 entering the seventh inning before substitute shortstop Edmondo Sosa, who has frequently risen to the occasion when summoned, smacked his second double of the game, this one with two outs to score two runs.
Schwarber then stepped to the plate and furthered Rockies reliever Victor Vodnik's anguish by launching a two-run homer over the center-field fence.
Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Edmundo Sosa (33) celebrates his two RBI double during the seventh inning against the Colorado Rockies at Citizens Bank Park.
Max Keppler then smacked a solo homer for his third hit off another Rockies reliever, with Nick Castellanos launching one of his own on the next at-bat to make it 6-1.
Contributions by the likes of Sosa, playing shortstop in place of the injured Trea Turner, and Keppler, a Minnesota Twin the past 10 years, were certainly positive signs. As for scoring all those runs late, that's how it may have to be sometimes for the Phillies.
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They couldn't get to Rockies starter German Marquez, making just his sixth appearance in three seasons due to elbow trouble, but showing his old, hard-to-hit stuff. The Colorado bullpen, however, was at the Phillies' mercy.
They feasted, and it was a riveting sight.
Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber (12) celebrates his two-run home run in the dugout during the seventh inning against the Colorado Rockies at Citizens Bank Park.
'We don't score runs,' Schwarber said, noting it wasn't the first time, 'but when we get into the bullpen, next thing you know we got guys swinging away and we were able to get that done today.'
That need will arise again. At the same time, the Phillies received a typically stellar start from Cristopher Sanchez.
He did throw 93 pitches over just 5 1/3 innings, but struck out seven while allowing just the one run on Hunter Goodman's sixth-inning homer that ended Sanchez' day.
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'He missed some pitches,' Phillies manager Rob Thomson said, 'but he wasn't missing by much.'
Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Max Kepler (17) celebrates his home run with outfielder Nick Castellanos (8), who then homered himself, during the eighth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Citizens Bank Park.
Sanchez agreed, but was encouraged by the fact, the Phillies reported, that he averaged 96.5 mph, the highest of his career, on his 43 sinkers.
After he left, relievers Orion Kerkering, Joe Ross, Jose Alvarado and Jordan Romano came on to pitch 3 2/3 shutout innings with two hits and two walks.
For openers, you couldn't beat it if you were a Phillies' fan, fueling legitimate thoughts, now three years in the making, that they'll also have a chance to perhaps strut around with a championship trophy of their own later this year.
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That's a long way off. It was only March 31, But victories as thorough as Monday's have a way of nourishing that far-off quest.
Contact Kevin Tresolini at [e-mail] and follow on Twitter @kevintresolini. Support local journalism by subscribing to delawareonline.com and our DE Game Day newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Phillies hope to emulate Eagles with own MLB title run